Card index tray



P. O. UNGER CARD INDEX TRAY Aug. 28, 1934.

Filed April 28, 193. 4 Sheets-Sheet l EYQfi/Ct/F Aug. 28, 1934.

P. o. UNGER 1,971,468

CARD INDEX TRAY Filed April 28, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' \H hVEm/QF:

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Fil ed April 28, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lrTvQm/bF Pau/Z O anger V P. 0. UNGER CARD INDEX TRAY Filed April 28, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 hygm/czyr:

Paced 0f (drags 7? Patented Aug. 28, 1934 g h cams s'r 'rss PA ENT OFFICE CARD INDEX TRAY Paul 0. Unger, Chicago, 111., assignor to Wilson- Jones Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 28, 931, Serial No. 533,468 I 13 Claims. (01. 129-16) This invention relates to a card index tray and be integral with or secured to the bottom plate. concerns itself with a novel structure in which. This sideplate 2 has an overhanging flange 3 card-spacing members are longitudinally adjustadirected inwardly of the tray. Upon the opposite ble in the trays, and are compressed into compact side of the tray there is a side plate 2w to which form by an adjustable follower block. The spacan overhanging flange 4 is pivotally mounted or 60;

ing members are preferably so designed that the hinged as indicated at 5. This flange 4 consticard holder may be readily snapped thereon and tutes a locking means for the retainers and card readily removed therefrom. Other novel feaholders. A coil spring 6 as shown in Figure 4 is tures of construction will become apparent in the associated with the hinged connection 5 in such following description. a manner that it will normally tend to force the 65 6 The invention comprises the novel structure flange 4 into the position shown in full lines in and combination of parts hereinafter described Figure 10. The tray is designed to-be housed in and more particularly pointed out and defined in a cabinet 0. r

the appended claims. Means are provided for operating the movable In the accompanying drawings which illustrate flange 4 and in the form shown in Figures 4 and 70= a preferred form of this invention, and in which 10, it. will be noted that the flange 4 has a desimilar reference numerals refer to similar feapending lug .7 near its forward end. A lever 3 is tures in the different views; 1 V pivoted adjacent the lower side corner of the ,Figure l is an elevatonal view of a card index tray as: indicated at 9 and a link 10 connects cabinet containing card index trays involving the lever 8 with the lug '7. As the lever 8 is ele- 15;. this invention; one tray being shown in dotted vated as shown in dotted lines in Figure 10, it line in its withdrawn position. v will swing the flange 4 upwardly so that the card Figure 2 is an elevational view with parts shown holders maybe moved from the tray or inserted in section oi one form of a card holder spacing therein." i member that may be used. Within the tray and beneath the flanges 3 and 80, Figure Sis a sectional view taken upon the line 4 are card holder spacing members which are III-III of Figure 2. adapted to be longitudinally shifted and com- Figure 4 is a top plan view of a card index tray pressed by a follower. Different forms of card involving this invention. holder spacing elements have been illustrated Figure 5 is an enlarged sectionali view taken and these will now be described.

upon the line V+V of Figure 4 illustrating a card One form of card holder spacing member is ilin elevated position. lustrated in Figures 2 and 3 and consists of an Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken inverted channel shaped base 11 which is adapted upon the line VI--VI of Figure 4" illustrating a to extend transversely of the tray. Narrow U- 35 card in elevation. shaped members or clips 12 are attached to the Figure 7 is an elevational view of another form base portion 11 adjacent the ends thereof. These of spacer which may be used in the tray. metal strips 12 are shown as provided with pro- Figure 8 is a sectional view taken upon the line jecting. tongues 13 which extend through suit-' VIII-VIII of Figure "I. j able slits in the topof the channel 11 and are 40 Figure'9 is a sectional view taken upon the line crimped over the under side thereof as shown in r I'X- -IXQf Figure 7, Figure-21 These metal strips are more or less re Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken silient and are provided with indented portions upon theline X--X of Figure 4, looking in the di- 14 which are directed inwardly in order to form motion of thearrom a restriction through which the card holders can i 45 Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view of a card be snapped. These indented portions. serve to indextray involving a modified form of mecha retain the card holders in the U-shaped bearing nism for operating the follower block. clips as will latermore fully appear.

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken In Figures '7 to 9, there is illustrated another upon the line XII--XII of Figure 11 looking in form of card holderspacing member. which con- 50 the direction of the arrow. A si'sts of..a base portion 18, with upstanding U- 10 5 Figure 13 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional shaped metal clips 19 adjacent the ends thereof. view taken uponthe line XIIIXIII o'fFigure 11; These upstanding metal clips 19 have resilient In describing the invention inrelation to the tongues 20 cutfrom one side thereof and directed drawings, it will be noted that the tray consists inwardly to forma restricted passage for confin- 55. of a bottom plate '1 and a side plate 2whichmay ing the' card holders therebeneath. The card holders are adapted to be snapped past these tongues. The U-shaped clips 19 may be welded or secured to the base portion 18 in any suitable manner.

A plurality of such card holder spacing members are placed in abutting relation in a tray under the flanges 3 and 4 and are slidably adjusted by means of a follower as will later more fully appear. It will be understood that index cards having card holders with laterally projecting bearing or pintle portions are adapted to be confined in these spacing elements just described. In Figure 5 an index card 21 has been illustrated in elevated position for the purposes of illustration. The index card 21 is removably secured upon a pair of spaced tongues 22a which are struck from a sheet-metal strip 22. This sheetmetal strip 22 has its outer edge curled around a rod 24 which projects beyond the sheet-metal strip and is adapted to be retained in the U- shaped members on the spacing element.

Of course, it is understood that any form of card holder havinglaterally extending pintles may be used and that will fit the bifurcations of a spacing element. The invention is not limited toany specific form of card holder.

These card holder spacing elements which retain the card holders are adapted to be held in compressed relation in the tray by means of a follower block. Several forms of follower blocks have been illustrated for thuswise compressing and confining the spacing. elements. One form of follower is illustrated in Figure 4 and consists of a plate 25 having an upstanding flange 26 which is adapted for contacting the spacing element. A pair of friction levers 27 are pivoted to the plate 25 by means of pins 28 projecting upwardly from the plate and slots 29 in the levers 27. The adjacent ends of the levers 27 are connected by a link 30 having a handle 31 thereon. When the link 36 is swung into alignment with the levers 27, the same are projected outwardly into engagement with the side walls of the tray for frictionally locking the follower plate 25 in position. To release the levers 27 from frictional engagement with the sides of the tray, the link 30 is swung to a position at a right-angle to the levers as'shownin dotted lines in Figure 4 for withdrawing the levers from frictional engagement with the sides of the tray. In released position, the follower plate 25 may be longitudinally shifted with respect to the tray.

In Figures 11 to 13, a modified form of follower block has been illustrated which is connected with the operating mechanism for the hinged flange 4 of the tray as will now be set forth. It will be noted'that the tray has an inclined plate 32 at its forward end. A pair of guide plates 33 are secured to the bottom of the tray beneath the inclined plate 32. The guide plates 33 form a guideway for the 'follower plate 34. A link 34a is pivoted at one end to the follower plate 34 as indicated at 35. The other end of the link 34 is pivoted to a' slide plate 36 which is slidably mounted ina guideway formed by-a' sheet-metal member 3611 having upwardly directed overhanging flanges 37 as shown more clearly in Figure 13. To the slide plates 35, there is hinged a link38. The link 38 is also hinged to a link 39 which is hinged to the bottom I ofthe tray as indicated at 40. A pair of toggle links: 41 connect the plate 39 with the flange 4. The link member 39 has an upstanding handle 42 which may be grasped by the operator for elevat ing the same. In fact, the links 38 and 39 act as a-toggle so that as the handle 42 is elevated the slide plate 36 will be drawn along guide toward the side of the tray having the hinged flange 4. As the toggle links 38 and 39 are elevated, the flange 4 will be swung upwardly due to the connections 41 therewith so that as soon as the flange 4 is swung upwardly for the purpose of unlocking the card holders and spacing elements, the follower block will be simultaneously retracted releasing the compression upon the spacing element so that the same may be quickly and easily removed, or additional ones inserted when it is desired to contract or expand the contents of the tray.

When it is desired to remove a card holder from its spacing element, the locking flange 4 is swung upwardly, the card holder may then be lifted from its spacing element. In lifting the card holder from the spacing element it must be forced through the restricted throat formed by the detents 14 01 20, and in forcing the same through such throat the spacing element may be elevated and become dislodged from its position. For this reason, it is preferable to force one or both ends of the card holder above the restricted throat before the locking flange 4 is swung upwardly. Thereafter the card holder may be readily removed from its spacing element withoutdisturbing the same.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that a novel form of card index tray has been provided in which each individual card holder is'removably retained in a separate bearing or spacing element and in which the retaining and spacing elements are freely mounted for longitudinal adjustment thereof. It will further be appreciated that the spacing elements and cord holders are normally locked in the tray against removal by the hinged flange 4, and the compressor plate, and that as soon as the hinged looking plate, or flange 4 is swung upwardly according to the manner shown in Figure 11, the card holders may be removed from or inserted in the spacing and retaining elements. It will also be appreciated that by providing resilient tongues or depressions upon the walls of the bifurcations of the spacing elements, the card holders will be securely held from accidental displacement.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting'the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a card index tray, a plurality of spacing and retaining elements longitudinally adjustable of the tray, a follower plate associated therewith, a hinged member on the tray for confining said elements against removal, and means for simultaneously operating said follower and hinge member.

2. The combination with a card index tray, of means for locking index cards against longitudinal shifting movement in said tray, means for locking said index cards against upward movement in the tray, and mechanism for simultaneously controlling both of said means.

3. Ina card index, a tray, a plurality of spacing bars having upwardly extending U-shaped sockets slidably mounted therein, a follower for maintaining said bars in contacting relation, the walls of said U-shaped sockets embodying means adapted for releasably retaining card holders therein, and pivoted locking means on said tray holder retaining bars in said tray, a follower associated with said bars, a locking member engaging over the adjacent ends of said bars, and

means connecting said member and follower for simultaneous operation.

6. In a card index, a spacing element having a plurality of pairs of upstanding parts forming pockets adapted for receiving card holders, said upstanding parts embodying means for forming intermediate restricted passages for the purpose set forth.

7. In a card index, a tray, a plurality of spacing elements therein and longitudinally adjustable of the tray, a follower for compressing said'elements, card holders retained by said elements, and a locking'member on said tray adapted for extending over the margins of said spacing elements upon one side for retaining the card holders in said elements, said locking member being operable for the removal of said holders from said elements.

8. In a card index, a tray, a plurality of bars mounted in said tray for longitudinal adjustment thereof, said bars having means for releasably retaining card holders therein, a follower associated with said bars, a hingedmember on said tray for engaging over the ends of the bars uponone side of the tray, a guideway in said tray, a plate slidable in said guideway, a connection between said plate and follower and a connection between said plate and hinge member.

9. In a card index, a tray, a plurality of card holder mountings in said tray and longitudinally adjustable thereof, a follower associated with said mountings, a movable locking member on said tray for engaging over the ends of the mountingsupon one side of said tray and a connection between said follower and locking member whereby the same may be simultaneously operated.

10. In a card index, a tray, a retaining and spacing element mounted in said tray and having pairs of upstanding parts, each pair of parts having a restricted passage, a card holder mounted sages, and a hinged locking flange on said tray for engaging over one end of said element and preventing the escape of said card holder when one end has been elevated above a restricted passage.

l1. In a card index, a bar having pairs of upstanding parts, said parts having resilient means forming a restricted throat, a card holder mounted between said parts and adapted to be snapped through the restricted throat.

12. In a card index, a tray, a spacing and retaining element extending transversely of said tray, said element having means for retaining a card holder in normal or partially removed position and a locking flange movahly secured to said tray and engaging over an end of said element and retaining said element against upward movement, when said card holder is moved from normal to partially removed position.

13. In a card index, a spacing and retaining element having spaced parts, said parts extending toward each other at a predetermined point to provide a restricted throat and a metal card holding bar confined between said parts and prevented from accidental removal by said restricted throat.

PAUL O. UNGER.

between said parts beneath said restricted pas- 

